For the New Reader at MOBIDon't Be Discouraged!

While general information and breastfeeding basics are to be found at MOBI Motherhood Intl’s website, our intent is to go beyond the norm in addressing extreme breastfeeding challenges. A woman who has never breastfed, reading at MOBI, could get the impression that breastfeeding must be really, really hard. This is not our intention. For most women, breastfeeding is not hard, especially if they are knowledgeable about the most common problems that can derail a breastfeeding relationship: events surrounding the birth, position and latch, and temporary, painful conditions such as engorgement, cracked nipples, plugged ducts, thrush and mastitis. Many excellent websites provide breastfeeding basics and meet the needs of the majority of women. MOBI is for those mothers who need information about extraordinary breastfeeding difficulties. As you read at MOBI, keep in mind that you will learn about many situations we hope you never experience. This knowledge can help you have empathy if you meet mothers going through difficult breastfeeding experiences. And if you were to encounter any of these problems yourself, this knowledge could help you get through them with a little less difficulty and emotional upheaval. Please realize as you read that we do not wish to discourage you, or anyone, from breastfeeding. Just the opposite. Too many mothers stop breastfeeding because they don’t have the information they need to overcome the circumstances they face. Families may go on to feel regret, anger, and sometimes depression caused by breastfeeding loss and grief. The rewards of breastfeeding are immeasurable—as any of our MOBI mothers can attest. While the concerns of breastfeeding are our focus, we wish to increase public awareness that breastfeeding problems commonly tie in to other concerns of both the mother and the baby. At MOBI, we have seen that babies who had problems breastfeeding frequently had a developmental or physical problem diagnosed later on. If a baby’s breastfeeding problems were taken more seriously from the onset - problems with latching, swallowing, etc. - instead of just telling the Mom to give it up and bottle feed, more babies would profit through early intervention and appropriate therapy. On the mother’s side, rather than dismissing a mother’s low supply and offering bottled milk as a solution, healthcare providers could address the issues behind the low supply – insufficient glandular tissue, anemia, hormonal imbalances, or other health issues. Then, even if the mother isn't able to breastfeed her current baby, at least the problem has been identified, the mother’s health improved, and the mother can make peace with her disappointment. The MOBI Team